East Kilbride FC boss reveals 15 signings ahead of Lowland kick-off

Billy Ogilvie prepares squad for opening league match against Gretna

EKFC boss Billy Ogilvie has most of his squad confirmed for the big kick-off

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Billy Ogilvie, the new manager of East Kilbride Football Club, has signed 15 players as Kilby prepare to open their Lowland League account away to Gretna on Saturday.

The K-Park gaffer had remained tight-lipped over recent weeks as he tried to find the right mix for his first competitive game, but Ogilvie has this week confirmed who will be in his squad for the forthcoming season.

There are a few familiar faces from last season with captain Marc Templeton re-signing, while Craig Duncan, Paul Tierney, Aaron Murdoch, Martyn McLaughlin and Craig McLeish are also on board again for the new season.

Former East Kilbride YM striker Garry O’Hanlon has joined up at K-Park and he has enjoyed a good pre-season with the club, scoring twice in the John Scarlett Cup at the weekend to help Kilby win the pre-season tournament hosted by Whitletts Victoria.

Meanwhile, Ogilvie, who arrived at the club last month after leaving Queen’s Park’s reserve team in May, has used his Hampden connections to secure the signing of Portuguese striker Joao Vitoria, who scored three goals for Queen’s Park in League Two last term.

And the Kilby boss (pictured above) reckons Vitoria, who has been playing as a trialist in recent weeks, will be a key player for the club this season.

He told the News: “It’s great to have Joao on board. I took him to Queen’s Park from amateur football a couple of years ago and he enjoyed his experience there and playing at Hampden.

“Last season was the first time he had dipped his toe in at League Two level and although he was released by Queen’s Park, he always played well for me in the reserves.

“So when the chance came to sign him I was delighted. He has a lot talent, good strength and he’s done well in his games so far, but he’s still got lots to learn.

“Joao can be a big player for us but I expect the rest of our strikers to chip in as well.

“It has taken a bit of time to get this squad together but I’m happy with those I’ve signed and there are still five or six trialists I’ve still to make up my mind on.”

Kilby enjoyed 1-0 successes against Junior sides Yoker and West Calder to win the John Scarlett Cup on Saturday and Ogilvie hopes that will bolster his side’s confidence as they go into a tricky league opener against Gretna.

He added: “We know we are in for a tough game on Saturday, but this cup win should help the boys’ belief going into the game.

“We beat two experienced junior sides on Saturday and then beat Whitletts Victoria 3-1 in a friendly on Monday night as well, so that should stand us in good stead.

“The carrot of promotion this season means a lot of sides have really strengthened and, although I haven’t seen any of our opposition yet, I would expect Gretna to have done that and we can expect them to be of a higher standard than they were last season.

“The games are coming thick and fast for the first couple of months, so we want to start well and hopefully we can do that.”

Ogilvie is aiming to have around 18 players signed for the campaign and will hope to add a few more players soon.